The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-05-13
Our Washington Letter


Washington May 9, 1887.
Secretary Lamar did not attend the State
dinner given in honor of the Queen of the
Sandwich Islands at the White House on
Friday evening, and the gossips were ready
with an explanation. They said it was on
account of the complexion of the dusky
sovereign. This accusation made it neces-
sary of course, for the Secretary to come
forward with his own explanation. He
said the true instigation of his nou-ap-
perance was neuralgia, from which he had
suffered ever since the delivery of that
memorable Grafton at the unwilling of the
| Calhoun statue in Charleston. He further
vouchsafed the information that he very
much regretted his inability to sit at dinner
with Hawaii's Queen, which he felt would
| have been high honor.
Kapiolani could not but be pleased with
her visit if receptions were what she most
desired. Victoria could scarcely have had
| morehonors done her in the same length of
time than did the Queen of the little
Kingdom i'll the Pacific. The Presidents
wife returned her call at the White Houst
in less than two hours-the limit allowed
by the royal etiquette in returning visits.
The ladies of the Cabinet and the memb-
ers of the Cabinet called on the Queen at
her hotel-an enter tanment was given in
her honor at the Hawaiian Legation as
well as at the White House-a review of
troops was made for her beneft-she was
taken around to the sights of the city by
committee of reception--she was taken TO
Mt. Vernon on the steamer Dispatch, and
she was the recipient of various other at
tentions from private organizations and
from private but distinguished individuals.
The royal visitor attended two American
amusements while here-the races and the
circus. At the latter place there was moth
ing to distinguish her majestys seat from
those around her, net even a cushion She
had to sit on the hard board bench lust
like her common neighbors. There was
nothing official about her visit there, which
was made at her own suggestion, and of
course she took her lot with the common
herd. 1t was not even known that royalty
was present, and she was permitted to walk
through the ree-inches-deep-dust in
passing in and out of the grounds as en-
tirely free from any pressure of public al
tention as if she had been nobody in par
ticular.
The Queen scarcely spoke to her COM
panions during the performance, and the
noisy racket of the clown seemed to have
no satisfaction for her. But when the ele-
phant tossed the clown about the ring it
made her laugh, and when the clowns turn
came to batter the gigantic beast out Of
breath and finally lay him PROSTATE in the
arena, 1.-THE elephant having been trained
to lie DOWN her majesty guffawed out
right.
On the Queens trip to Mount Vernon,
mice customs curtesy to kings" was rid
gidly observed. She was escorted to the
steamer past line made up of officers of
the Navy yard gathered to do her homage,
while royal salvo of twenty one guns
was fired. Inside the cabin Kapiolani
found her self in the centre of distins-
uished company. The Diplomatic Corps
was generously represented by the minis
tiers from Chilli, Venezuela, the Neither
lands. Austria, Japan, Turkey, Switzerland
the Russian "Charge d. Afaires," and the
Chinese Secretary of Legation.
Our government was represented by Of
ficials of the War, State and Navy Depart
ments, members of the Supreme Court, and
by members of the Senate and House Com
mittees on Foreign Relations, besides sixty
or seventy other persons of recognized i'm
portance in politics or society.
The commander of the Dispatch made
little speech of welcome to the Queen, in
which he informed her that by order of the
Secretary of the Navy, who delighted in
doing any service to a beautiful woman, he
would place her in comm aud of the vessel.
Kapiolani was evidently nprepared for a
speech. She seemed slightly embarrassed
and spoke slowly expressing her regrets
that her limited command of English would
only allow her to say that she was delighted
with the hospitality of the American peo-
pie.
When they arrived at Mount Vernon
the commanding officer besought the
Queens gracious permission to cast an
Choir. AT this point she deprecated too
much attention aud said "Pease do what
ever is customary or required by the occas-
ion." But he was not to be batfied in re-
gard to the dues of royalty, and whenever
he wanted to fire salute, start the vessel |
or run up flag, he followed the royal |
ceremonies to the letter
And such fool is allowed to be an of |
ficer in our Navy, ED.